Freezing tray



Dec. 4, 1951 J. WILLIAMSON 2,577,392

' FREEZING TRAY Filed April 21, 1949 Invent T: dames Wilhamson,

His Attovh ey.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 FREEZING TRAY James Williamson, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application April 21, 1949, Serial No. 88.719

Claims. 1

My invention relates to freezing trays and more particularly to freezing trays adapted for use in the evaporators of household refrigerators.

It is customary to provide with household refrigerators one or more freezing trays for use in preparing ice blocks or frozen desserts. The freezing tray is customarily positioned on a metal shelf within an evaporator and this shelf is usually cooled by refrigerant circulated through or in contact therewith in order to freeze water within the tray. To facilitate conducting of heat from the contents of the tray and thereby to speed the freezing thereof, the tray is usually made of metal, and the metal tray freezes to the portion of the evaporator which serves as a shelf or supporting surface for the tray. It has been customary to wax the tray in order to reduce the adhesion of the tray and the supporting surface. However, the wax coating wears off to some extent after repeated use of the tray over a long period and the adhesion of the tray and the supporting surface increases, making the removal of the tray progressively more difficult. By my invention an improved tray construction is provided by which removal of the tray from the supporting surface is facilitated. Further, this removal is accomplished without the necessity of utilizing mechanical devices for camming against the supporting surface or of coating the surface of the tray with an adhesion-reducing wax.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved freezing tra construction which facilitates release of the tray from its supporting surface.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

Briefly, the freezing tray of my invention includes a pan-shaped tray element and a thin flexible element sealed along its edge to the outside of the tray element. In one illustrated embodiment of my invention the tray comprises a plurality of pan-shaped tray elements which nest within one another and are sealed adjacent the upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between the complementary tray elements. In another illustrated embodiment the freezing tray includes a pan-shaped tray element and a. flexible sheet of metal sealed along its edge to the bottom portion of the tray element. By these arrangements, when a lifting force is applied to one end of the tray, the inner tray, being frozen to the ice therein, remains rigid as-one end is lifted upwardly. The outer sheet or tray which tends to adhere to the supporting surface flexes slightly away from the inner tray and is gradually peeled from the supporting. surface.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a tray constructed in accordance with my invention resting on a refrigerated supporting surface of an evaporator, Fig. 2 shows the relation of the tray elements as the tray is being released from the supporting surface, Fig. 3 shows a modi-' fied form of my invention, and Fig. 4 illustrates another modified form of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a portion of an evaporator I which includes two sneet metal sections 2 and 3. The section 3 includes corrugations 4 which provide passages for the circulation of refrigerant between the sheets 2 and 3. The sheet 2 of the evaporator provides a supporting surface upon which rests a freezlng tray 5.

The freezing tray 5 is constructed of 2 elongated pan-shaped elements 6 and l. The inner tray 6 is nested within the outer tray 1. The upper edges of the trays are flanged outwardly as indicated at 8 and 9 and these upper edges are sealed together throughout their length along the flanges 8 and 9. This sealing may be accomplished, for example, by a continuous weld along the entire upper edges of the tray elements 6 and I. The sealing of the edges of the tray elements in the manner outlined is necessary in order to exclude the moisture from the region between the tray elements 6 and I. In order to provide a handle ID to which an upward force may be applied for lifting the tray from the supporting surface the flanges may be extended somewhat further at the forward end of the tray. A divider structure I I is provided within the tray for dividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments. 'I'he divider structure may, for example, be that shown in the Patent 2,265,705- Steenstrup, assigned to the assignee of the present application.

The tray construction outlined above provides for a relative flexing of the outer tray element relative to the inner tray element which facilitates the removal of the tray from the supporting surface. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 with some exaggeration in order to illustrate more clearly the relationship of the parts. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, when an upward force is applied to the flange or handle II) the inner tray element 3 movrs upwardly. and the bottom of this inner tray element 6 remains flat and rigid because of its adhesion to the ice frozen within the tray. Thus, the forward end of the tray element 6 is lifted and the overall tray element 6 assumes the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2. On the other hand, the tray element I tends to adhere to the supporting surface formed by the sheet 2 of the evaporator and, since it is not held rigid by adhesion to the ice mass within the tray, it flexes in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the tray elements 6 and I being pulled apart slightly from each other, as indicated by the space l2. Thus, in the position shown in Fig. 2 where the bottom of the tray has been partially released from the supporting surface, the rearward portion I3 of the bottom of the tray element I remains in en gagement with the supporting surface formed by sheet 2 of the evaporator. The lifting force applied to the handle Ill of the tray has already pulled the forward portion ll of the bottom of the tray element 1 away from the supporting surface. As the upward movement of the tray is continued it can be seen that the lifting force applied to the handle III is transmitted through the portion 14 and is applied along a line, indicated at l5 extending transversely of the tray, this line representing the forward edge of the remaining adhering portion l3. The continued application of lifting force, therefore, effects a progressive release of the remaining adhering portion l3, the nature of this progressive release being a sort of peeling action. This peeling action of the tray element I might be likened to the removal of adhesive tape from a surface. While it is extremely difiicult to lift an entire strip of adhesive tape directly upward from a support-- ing surface, it is relatively easy to remove the adhesive tape by first loosening one end and then peeling the adhesive tape from the surface. The force tending to loosen the adhesive tape is always applied at the line of intersection between the adhesive tape already removed and the adhesive tape still remaining adhered to the sup- .porting surface and this concentration of the releasing force renders the removal of the adhesive tape relatively easy. Similarly, the tray construction of my invention by causing an application of the releasing force in a corresponding manner at the line between the released portion of the bottom of the tray element I and the remaining adhering portion concentrates this releasing force at the very point required and facilitates release of the freezing tray with the application of a relatively small force.

The tray elements 6 and 'I are welded together along the entire upper edges or flanged portions thereof so as to exclude moisture from the region between the tray elements 6 and I. It can be appreciated that the presence of moisture in this region, which moisture would freeze to ice under the temperature conditions prevailing, would reduce or eliminate the flexing of the tray element 1 relative to the tray element 6, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and thereby would prevent the operation of the tray in a manner necessary to facilitate release from the supporting surface.

By way of example, the pan-shaped tray elements 6 and 1 may be formed from sheets of aluminum approximately .015" in thickness. This provides a tray in which the individual panshaped elements are thin and flexible and the outer tray element I peels readily from the supporting'surface. Alternatively the tray may be made in the form shown in Fig. 3, wherein three pan-shaped elements l6, l1, and I8. each similar to the elements 6 and I shown in the drawings, are employed. The three elements are nested one within the other and are sealed along the upper edges in the same manner as that described with respect to the two-element construction. Where three such pan-shaped elements are provided, each element may be formed, for example, from a sheet of aluminum approximately .01" in thickness. The operation of the tray in facilitating release from the supporting .surface is similar to that of the form previously described, both elements I1 and I8 flexing during this releasing operation.

For convenience in manufacture and for reasons of economy, I prefer to form the inner tray element 6 as well as the outer tray element I from a sheet of thin flexible material relying on the adhesion of the ice to the tray element 6 to impart rigidity to that tray element during the releasing operation. However, it will be apparent that, if desired, the inner tray element could be made of thick rigid material without departing from the scope of my invention, the proper carrying out of my invention requiring that only the outer tray element be made of thin flexible material.

In the forms described in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the freezing tray is composed of a plurality of substantially identical pan-shaped elements nested within one another and sealed along the upper edges. This form is preferred because the similarity in structure of the various tray elements facilitates manufacturing and because welding along the upper outturned flanges of the tray elements is a relatively simple operation. However, it will be apparent from the foregoing description that the outer flexible element which is adapted to rest on the supporting surface need not extend upwardly to the top of the inner tray element as in the forms previously described.-

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is illustrated a modified form of my invention in which an outer flexible element l9 extends only along the bottom portion of the inner pan-shaped tray element 20.

The tray element I9 is sealed to the inner tray element 20 by welding along a continuous line indicated at 2|. The operation of the modified form shown in Fig. 4 in facilitating release of the tray from a supporting surface is the same as that described in detail in connection with the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A freezing tray comprising an inner panshaped element, an outer thin flexible element covering the exterior of the bottom of said panshaped element and disposed immediately adjacent thereto along the entire exterior surface of said bottom, said flexible element being sealed along its edge to said pan-shaped element to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

2. A freezing tray comprising an inner panshaped element, a second element of thin flexible material positioned immediately adjacent the exterior of said pan-shaped element along the entire exterior surface of the bottom thereof, said flexible element being sealed along its edge to asvaaea said pan-shaped element to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

3. A freezing tray comprising a first panshaped element, and a second element of the same shape as said first element and nested in said first element, the bottom sections of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sections, each of said elements being formed of thin flexible material, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

4. A freezing tray comprising a first panshaped element, and a second element of the same shape as said first element and nested in said first element, the bottom sections of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sections, each of said elements being formed of thin fiexible metal, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

5. A freezing tray comprising a first panshaped element, and a second element of the same shape as said first element and nested within said first element, the bottom sections of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sections, each of said elements being formed from a thin sheet of aluminum, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements. 7

6. A freezing tray comprising a first panshaped element, and a second element of the same shape as said first element and nested within said first element, said elements being formed of thin flexible material, the bottom sections of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sections, each of said elements including an outwardly extending flange along the upper edge thereof, said flanges being sealed together to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

7. A freezing tray comprising a first panshaped element, and a second element of the same shape as said first element and nested in said first element, the bottom section of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sec tions, each of said elements being formed from a sheet of thin flexible aluminum approximately .015" in thickness, said elements being sealed to= gether adjagent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

8. In a freezing tray adapted to be utilized in apparatus wherein the bottom of the tray freezes to a supporting surface, a first elongated panshaped element, and a, second elongated element of the same shape as said first element and nested in said first element, the bottom sections of said elements being disposed immediately adjacent each other throughout the entire area of said bottom sections, each of said elements being formed of thin flexible metal, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements, the tray including an outwardly extending portion adjacent one end adapted to be grasped for applying an upward lifting force to said tray, said elements being pulled away from each other along the bottom of the tray when an upward force is applied to said portion to eifect a peeling action of the first of said elements from the supporting surface.

9. A freezing tray comprising three pan-shaped elements, said pan-shaped elements being nested one within the other, at least the outer one of said elements being formed from a, sheet of flexible metal, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

10. A freezing tray comprising three panshaped elements, said pan-shaped elements being nested one within the other, each of said elements being formed from a sheet of aluminum approximately .01" in thickness, said elements being sealed together adjacent their upper edges to exclude moisture from the region between said elements.

JAMES WILLIAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,020,004 Wishman Mar. 12, 1912 1,912,065 Buchanan May 30, 1933 1,951,071 Stipe Mar. 13, 1934 2,162,162 Murguiondo June 13, 1939 2,373,251 Mallard Apr. 10, 1945 2,389,317 Kitto Nov. 20, 1945 2,415,451 Bynnestvedt Feb. 11, 194! 2368.492 Gazda Apr. 26, 1949 

